We will arrive in Galway by rail and flying out of Shannon next day. Is there public transportation from Galway to Shannon? Should we stay in Galway for the night or go on to Ennis or a location nearer the airport? Thanks.

Charli,
There is deifnitely a bus from Galway to Shannon, I dropped my sister in law off there last May. Don't remember how often though, but do know that we had to have her there quite early, we were staying in Ballyvaughn.
Char

Check this web site and see if timings suit

http://www.citylink.ie/timetable-galw2shan.htm

Thank you. Exactly what I was looking for.

BusEireann also goes Galway-Shannon, mostly with a stop in Ennis.
http://www.BusEireann.ie
If your flight from Shannon is early, you may be better advised to stay closer so you don't have to get up in the middle of the night to catch the bus.

If you have to get to Shannon airport early, CityLink might be your better option.

Our last trip, we caugt an 08:35 Bus Eireann #344 from Ennis to catch our 11:00 AerLingus flight back to the U.S. Carmel Daniels, Proprietress of Rose Cottage B&B in Ennis prepared our breakfast at 7:00 AM and we caught a taxi to the Ennis Bus/Rail Station.

On an earlier trip, I recall catching a taxi at 05:45 from the Queens Hotel in Ennis to the Bus/Rail station. It must have been to catch a 06:00 Bus Eireann to Shannon. The earliest one I find on the schedule now is 06:55. I arranged for the taxi the day before and at 05:30 he was at the door.